Record 942 Croppers

[Gragson]

Round the folks today dropping off essentials and asked to go to the shed to get something and spotted these, mine in fact bought from an autojumble over 30 years ago for a fiver if I recall.

Queue of stuff I don't want to do so looking at strip, spinny wire on a stick, repaint etc and never likely to be used again...as everyone has a million ways to cut things easier now.

Looking for advice on addressing the jaws, pics are fully closed, obviously they don't need to be sharp but hard and aligned, appreciate advice on grinding back and heat treating (if required)

 

[gordon stephenson]

If the jaws need dressing, I would use a file, not grinding.

 

[roofman]

Nothing safe when you get them bad boys working

 

[fizzy]

I have set of those as well. I was very lucky - had them dirt cheap and never been used!
Have you seen the price of them new

 

[Agroshield]

I do not think a file will touch the jaws.

What abrading facilities do you have? Ideally a belt grinder or disk sander (something with a table/rest). Make up a wooden block to present the jaw at the correct angle to the belt. Grind each side equally and each jaw equally. Do not get them too hot. Dip in water. Alternate jaw and side for maximum cooling.

What I do not know is if the jaw pivots are eccentric. If they are not and you have to grind a lot off and grind equally up the jaw, you will end up with a gap at the fulcrum and touching at the tips (you can adjust the tip gap with the bolts on the handles).

 

[gordon stephenson]

If a file will not dress the jaws, then they are too hard,

 

[Gragson]

Thanks for the tips gents. I do have a belt sander & disk sander machine, and lots of more aggressive stuff which I won't use..
Think I will probably start with careful use of the belt sander and intermittent cooling so's not to get too hot but remove more material & shape, then finish with files.
The home office dictated a landscape project needed to go ahead of my play time, so not a lot of time on it today.

Used to working on fused stuff but one of the jaw bolts is being surprisingly difficult..
After 2 rounds of WD, heat, impact it's still holding. Mindful that I don't want to burr the head on the bolt..Tried breaker bar and rattle gun carefully also.

Diesel overnight and will try with hotter oxy torch tomorrow, should get it on the march I hope.

 

[Agroshield]

What does the bolt thread into? A nut or a similar plate to the front? Is there any thread projecting on the back that has been burred over and damaged? Try tightening it up and then dressing anything that sticks out with a triangular needle file.

If the jaws are as they left the factory, put some marking blue on them and draw a line parallel to the start of the bevel on both sides. Then you will be sure to see that you are grinding each side and each jaw equally.

 

[Gragson]

It threads into the opposing plate, domed out but purposely no thread protruding, so I've left it to soak for a while in a bucket of diesel. All the others were seized up nicely, but thats the last to come out. The jaws have been messed with a fair bit, but getting there with a 1st cut file, feels more controllable.

Have you seen the price of them new

You're not wrong! Did a quick google and saw these - £370 they must be mad!!!! https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product...89-942H-Arm-Adjusted-High-Tensile-Bolt-Cutter

@pressbrake1 do you reckon these would sell on Canvey

 

[pressbrake1]

It threads into the opposing plate, domed out but purposely no thread protruding, so I've left it to soak for a while in a bucket of diesel. All the others were seized up nicely, but thats the last to come out. The jaws have been messed with a fair bit, but getting there with a 1st cut file, feels more controllable.



You're not wrong! Did a quick google and saw these - £370 they must be mad!!!! https://www.ffx.co.uk/tools/product...89-942H-Arm-Adjusted-High-Tensile-Bolt-Cutter

@pressbrake1 do you reckon these would sell on Canvey

Luckily the nightmare that was canvey ended a long time ago!
Don’t know if they’d sell on canvey but I’m sure someone would mug you for it

 

[Gragson]

Stripped, splodge of paint, assembled, happy with jaws now and they align nicely, could have taken more off to completely close all the big gaps but they cut bolts/chain well as they are.
The reason I was having so much trouble taking one of the jaw bolts out was....one is right hand the other is left hand thread , glad that dawned on me before more drastic measures..